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New Coaches at Illinois and Tulsa U.
Groce named new men's basketball coach at Illinois
Champaign, IL (Sports Network) - Illinois has named John Groce as its new men's basketball coach.
Groce spent the past four seasons at Ohio University and guided the Bobcats to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. This year's squad was 29-8 and reached the NCAA Sweet 16, taking North Carolina to overtime before losing to the Tar Heels in a Midwest Region semifinal.
"I am extremely pleased to introduce John Groce as our men's basketball coach," said Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas on Thursday. "It became very clear during the process that John is a terrific fit at the University of Illinois. He has won at a high level wherever he has coached and he has some great mentors. His Ohio team made a great run to the Sweet 16 during the current NCAA Tournament, taking a No. 1 seed into overtime in their final game last Friday. John has recruited and coached at the highest level, and I have no doubt he will be an outstanding leader for the young men in our basketball program."
In four years at Ohio, Groce posted a record of 85-56. He also took the Bobcats to the 2010 NCAA Tournament and they pulled off another surprise that spring with a first-round upset of Georgetown.
Before taking over at Ohio, Groce had numerous stops as an assistant from 1993 through 2008. He spent three years at his alma mater, Taylor University of the NAIA level, then moved on to North Carolina State, Butler, Xavier and Ohio State.
"I am thrilled to be the basketball coach here and feel like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our family," Groce said about joining the Illini. "The Midwest background and values we share makes this University of Illinois a perfect for us and we're looking forward to making an impact on the basketball court as well as in the Champaign-Urbana community."
Illinois needed a replacement for Bruce Weber, who was fired on March 9, one day after the Fighting Illini lost in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament and finished with a record of 17-15. Illinois was off to a 15-3 start and entered the rankings in mid-January after an upset of Ohio State, but went 2-12 the rest of the way.
Weber was 210-101 in nine seasons with the Illini, winning a pair of Big Ten regular-season championships and one Big Ten Tournament crown. He also took the program to the brink of an NCAA championship, as Illinois lost to North Carolina in the title game of 2005 NCAA Tournament.
03/29 14:24:18 ET
Danny Manning to become Tulsa's new hoops coach
Tulsa, OK (Sports Network) - The University of Tulsa announced Thursday that Kansas assistant coach Danny Manning has agreed in principle to become the new men's head basketball coach of the Golden Hurricane.
Since Kansas is playing in the NCAA Final Four, an official news conference can't take place until next week following the NCAA championship.
"I'm excited and looking forward to being the head basketball coach at The University of Tulsa. I want to thank President Upham, [athletic director] Ross [Parmley] and the search committee for allowing me this tremendous opportunity to coach at a university with a fine basketball tradition," said Manning. "I'd also like to thank Coach [Bill] Self for giving me the chance to be a part of his staff for the past nine years. I have learned a tremendous amount about the game and the profession from him and all of the members of his staff.
"I look forward to meeting with our TU players, the ardent Golden Hurricane fans, the campus and Tulsa community and the media," said Manning. "Right now my focus is on Kansas and its participation in the Final Four. We've worked extremely hard to get to this point and we want to keep it going for another few days."
Manning is in his ninth season on the Kansas basketball staff and has been an assistant coach since 2007. During that time, Manning has been part of one NCAA national title, five NCAA Elite Eight appearances, eight Big 12 regular season conference titles, five Big 12 Tournament championships and 268 career victories.
The 46-year-old Manning has an impressive 163-23 record as an assistant over the past five seasons. Prior to being named an assistant, Manning served as the director of student-athlete development/team manager.
"The University of Tulsa has not only hired a great person and a great ambassador, but also a man that will lead Tulsa to great heights athletically and be competing for championships in a very short amount of time," said Kansas head basketball coach Bill Self, a former head coach at Tulsa from 1997-2000.
One of the greatest players in Kansas basketball history, Manning is the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, racking up 2,951 points and 1,187 boards in his illustrious four-year career. He led the 1988 Jayhawks to a national championship.
Manning was selected No. 1 overall in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. He played for the Clippers, Hawks, Suns, Bucks, Jazz, Mavericks and Pistons, averaging 14.0 points and 5.2 rebounds in 883 career games.
Manning was a two-time NBA All-Star (1993 and 1994) and won the league's Sixth Man Award in 1998.
Tulsa was in need of a head coach after Doug Wojcik was fired on March 11. Wojcik compiled a 140-92 record in his seven seasons at the helm of the Golden Hurricane program. He is the school's leader in career victories.
03/29 14:15:19 ET
Champaign, IL (Sports Network) - Illinois has named John Groce as its new men's basketball coach.
Groce spent the past four seasons at Ohio University and guided the Bobcats to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. This year's squad was 29-8 and reached the NCAA Sweet 16, taking North Carolina to overtime before losing to the Tar Heels in a Midwest Region semifinal.
"I am extremely pleased to introduce John Groce as our men's basketball coach," said Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas on Thursday. "It became very clear during the process that John is a terrific fit at the University of Illinois. He has won at a high level wherever he has coached and he has some great mentors. His Ohio team made a great run to the Sweet 16 during the current NCAA Tournament, taking a No. 1 seed into overtime in their final game last Friday. John has recruited and coached at the highest level, and I have no doubt he will be an outstanding leader for the young men in our basketball program."
In four years at Ohio, Groce posted a record of 85-56. He also took the Bobcats to the 2010 NCAA Tournament and they pulled off another surprise that spring with a first-round upset of Georgetown.
Before taking over at Ohio, Groce had numerous stops as an assistant from 1993 through 2008. He spent three years at his alma mater, Taylor University of the NAIA level, then moved on to North Carolina State, Butler, Xavier and Ohio State.
"I am thrilled to be the basketball coach here and feel like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our family," Groce said about joining the Illini. "The Midwest background and values we share makes this University of Illinois a perfect for us and we're looking forward to making an impact on the basketball court as well as in the Champaign-Urbana community."
Illinois needed a replacement for Bruce Weber, who was fired on March 9, one day after the Fighting Illini lost in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament and finished with a record of 17-15. Illinois was off to a 15-3 start and entered the rankings in mid-January after an upset of Ohio State, but went 2-12 the rest of the way.
Weber was 210-101 in nine seasons with the Illini, winning a pair of Big Ten regular-season championships and one Big Ten Tournament crown. He also took the program to the brink of an NCAA championship, as Illinois lost to North Carolina in the title game of 2005 NCAA Tournament.
03/29 14:24:18 ET
Danny Manning to become Tulsa's new hoops coach
Tulsa, OK (Sports Network) - The University of Tulsa announced Thursday that Kansas assistant coach Danny Manning has agreed in principle to become the new men's head basketball coach of the Golden Hurricane.
Since Kansas is playing in the NCAA Final Four, an official news conference can't take place until next week following the NCAA championship.
"I'm excited and looking forward to being the head basketball coach at The University of Tulsa. I want to thank President Upham, [athletic director] Ross [Parmley] and the search committee for allowing me this tremendous opportunity to coach at a university with a fine basketball tradition," said Manning. "I'd also like to thank Coach [Bill] Self for giving me the chance to be a part of his staff for the past nine years. I have learned a tremendous amount about the game and the profession from him and all of the members of his staff.
"I look forward to meeting with our TU players, the ardent Golden Hurricane fans, the campus and Tulsa community and the media," said Manning. "Right now my focus is on Kansas and its participation in the Final Four. We've worked extremely hard to get to this point and we want to keep it going for another few days."
Manning is in his ninth season on the Kansas basketball staff and has been an assistant coach since 2007. During that time, Manning has been part of one NCAA national title, five NCAA Elite Eight appearances, eight Big 12 regular season conference titles, five Big 12 Tournament championships and 268 career victories.
The 46-year-old Manning has an impressive 163-23 record as an assistant over the past five seasons. Prior to being named an assistant, Manning served as the director of student-athlete development/team manager.
"The University of Tulsa has not only hired a great person and a great ambassador, but also a man that will lead Tulsa to great heights athletically and be competing for championships in a very short amount of time," said Kansas head basketball coach Bill Self, a former head coach at Tulsa from 1997-2000.
One of the greatest players in Kansas basketball history, Manning is the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, racking up 2,951 points and 1,187 boards in his illustrious four-year career. He led the 1988 Jayhawks to a national championship.
Manning was selected No. 1 overall in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. He played for the Clippers, Hawks, Suns, Bucks, Jazz, Mavericks and Pistons, averaging 14.0 points and 5.2 rebounds in 883 career games.
Manning was a two-time NBA All-Star (1993 and 1994) and won the league's Sixth Man Award in 1998.
Tulsa was in need of a head coach after Doug Wojcik was fired on March 11. Wojcik compiled a 140-92 record in his seven seasons at the helm of the Golden Hurricane program. He is the school's leader in career victories.
03/29 14:15:19 ET
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